Abstract: Objective  To investigate the psychological status of elderly patients with coronary heart failure who underwent rehabilitation therapy and psychological intervention. Methods  A total of 82 hospitalized elderly patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group and control group. All patients received drug therapy for heart failure and rehabilitation exercise training under the guidance of rehabilitation therapist. The patients in the intervention group also received psychological treatments. HAMD and HAMA scores were evaluated. Blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose and lipid profiles, left ventricular ejection factor (LVEF) and 6-minute walking distance were monitored at the baseline, 4 weeks and 6 months after treatments, respectively. Results  There were 53 depression cases (64.6%) and 36 anxiety cases (43.9%) in the two groups. After 4 weeks and 6 months of treatments, the HAMD scores of the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). Six-minute walking distance of the intervention group was significantly longer than that of the control group after 4 weeks of treatment. Blood pressure, heart rate, lipid profiles, 6-minute walking distance and cardiac function were improved markedly in the intervention group than in the control group after 6 months of treatment. Conclusion  Psychological therapy can effectively correct the negative emotion and improve heart function of elderly patients with coronary heart failure undergoing rehabilitation therapy.

Key words: Psychological intervention, Heart failure, Coronary heart disease, Exercise rehabilitation